Luisa is back in business
LUISA Wati makes a living selling fruits, vegetables and eggs at a market stall in Laucala Beach Estate, Nasinu.
Originally from Tovu, Totoya in Lau, Ms Wati has four children and lives in Caubati with her family. Her market stall is along RB Patel Centrepoint.
Ms Wati, who has been a market vendor for the past two years, said the decision to become a market vendor emerged after she got bored staying home.
“Four years ago I used to sell homemade cooked foods such as (fish in coconut cream), (fish in freshly squeezed, raw coconut milk), and (soup bone) at Housing Authority in Valelevu,” she said.
“I stopped after I gave birth to our youngest child and decided to start up again after four years of staying home.
“The children were all big and started going to school so I was the only one left at home,” she said.
Fortunately for her, she had a supportive husband who she says has been with her every step of the way.
“I told my husband about my decision to become a market vendor and he was ok with it and suggested that I start as soon as possible if I want to make money.” In 2017, she joined five other market vendors.
“I was so excited on my first day of selling and a bit worried too because there were other market vendors too that sold same produces, I had.
Ms Wati said she brushed aside the negative and continued to remind herself that she was there for a purpose and that was to earn money and support her husband in raising
her four children.
Her day begins at 3am every day when she wakes up, freshens up and heads to the Suva Municipal Market to buy produce from farmers and middlemen from Sigatoka, Tailevu, Naitasiri and nearby areas.
“From there I come back to my stall, drop my produce and go back to prepare the kids for school before beginning my day at 9am and close up at 7:30pm.” Ms Wati says she sells seven days a week and the busiest time for her is 9am to 10am and 4pm to 8pm.
“I have a lot of customers on Saturday and Sunday where I can serve 50 or more people and could make $300 or more and go back home satisfied with her earnings.” So far she says business is good because it’s picking up slowly.